It's not a foregone conclusion that the OKC Thunder got worse this offseason, but they did suffer roster casualties courtesy of the league's collective bargaining agreement.
As if fans haven't endured enough turmoil and emotional agony, former Thunder darling-turned-Hawk Lu Dort posted a farewell video featuring his brightest moments in Bricktown. Needless to say, it was a tear-jerker.
The sentiment was not lost on the city, and it may have even more resounding effects than the shooting guard originally intended. Unfortunately, it's a reminder of the cruel era that the NBA has unwittingly stepped into.
When Dort was traded to Atlanta, it broke hearts. The longest-tenured Thunder had been through it all with the blue and orange, and his commitment to the franchise culminated in an NBA Championship in 2024-25.
Dort, along with Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, gave OKC no reason to move them other than the fact that their contracts had become expendable. Two of the three were homegrown, and all three paid their dues within the organization.
They were the epitome of what the NBA should look like: development and a commitment to building a winning club from the ground up.
In an earlier day, they might still be playing under coach Mark Daigneault this season. But in the age of the second apron, fans now have to watch them from afar.
Thunder and others are already feeling crippling effects of new CBA
The latest collective bargaining agreement, officially implemented in 2024, has already begun to claim its victims.
Last offseason, it was the Celtics who saw their roster get decimated in an attempt to avoid the crushing penalties of second-apron status. Now, they are on the outside looking in on the championship picture.
This offseason, it was the Thunder who had to perform their own financial acrobatics. Thanks to their unparalleled depth and a genius GM at the helm, they managed to come out nearly unscathed.
Though the aftermath of their moves this summer might be more emotional than anything.
Still, the player departures beg the question: is the second apron truly an effective solution if it means breaking up a team that has built a title-contending roster the right way?
Dort's sentimental video may just be the start of what's to come. The Thunder, as well as other upper-echelon teams, will have to make even tougher decisions next year, thus creating more opportunities for brutal breakups and heartfelt goodbyes.
If the CBA renders teams incapable of running an organization the right way, it will continue to attract harsh criticism.
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